Leslie Cohen

Leslie Cohen was born January 14, 1923 in Baltimore, Maryland to Morris and Elsa Cohen, who had recently emigrated from Palestine. He was the youngest of four growing up in Druid Hill Park, and attended Johns Hopkins University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1944. After college, Leslie worked for the United States Army in the final year of World War II, then returned to Johns Hopkins and earned a PhD in Physics in 1950. While in graduate school, Leslie served as a volunteer supporting the formation of the State of Israel, frequently acting as a driver for visiting Israeli diplomats. After graduate school, Leslie worked for General Electric in Schenectady, New York, and then for the Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC. In the 1960s, while attending a Gordon Conference, he met Dr. Agda Artna, a fellow physicist, and they were married in 1967, settling in the Alexandria, VA. They had their only child, David, in November of 1969. Following retirement from the Naval Research Lab, he completed his distinguished career working for the Institute for Defense Analysis until 1993.

Leslie had a lifelong passion for science fiction beginning in his childhood, listening to early sci-fi programs on the radio, and culminating in 2001 with the publishing of his own science fiction novel, “Children of the Lattice”. He had accumulated an enviable library of science fiction literature by his later years. In 1975, while on sabbatical at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He discovered and became fascinated with the culture of Native Americans, and the Southwest. In later life, he was rarely seen without turquoise jewelry he’d made himself, and his trusty bolo necktie. Leslie also loved amateur (ham) radio, spending many hours communicating with people from all over the world. A lover of martinis, he could also be found sporting a leisure jacket and reclining with one after a long day.

Following the death of Agda in 2014, Leslie moved to Howard County, Maryland to be close to family. Leslie is survived by his son David, daughter-in-law Andrea, and his granddaughters Claire and Marina.

A graveside service for Leslie will be held Sunday, February 9, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Columbia Memorial Park, 12005 Clarksville Pike, Columbia, MD 21029.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to https://secure.jhu.edu/form/THFLGC2